AUDIO FILENAME CORRECTION
Unfortunately, three of the example audio
files that accompany the Recording A String Section article from SOS May 2006
contain illegal characters in their filenames (namely, + and &) and these names were
not picked up until after that issue went to press.
The online version of the
article therefore uses modified links to correctly named audio files (see below), so
anyone typing in the printed filename will get an error message.
The correct
versions of the files and their links are printed below.
Which Mic Technique Sounds Best? Choose For Yourself!
There's no 'standard' mic technique for recording string sections, as
each method has its own specific sound and devotees. So I've posted some audio files from
the session at www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06 so that you can compare the
different sonic characteristics of the different mic setups:
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
FullSectionMS.mp3
The full string orchestra recorded through small-diaphragm Sennheiser
MKH30 figure-of-eight and MKH40 cardioid mics set up as an M&S pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
FullSectionORTF.mp3
The full string orchestra recorded through two Microtech Gefell M930
large-diaphragm cardioid mics set up as an ORTF pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
FullSectionSpaced.mp3
The full string orchestra recorded through two Sennheiser MKH20
omnidirectional mics set up on separate stands several metres apart and operating as a
spaced pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
FullSectionORTFSpot.mp3
Here the sound of the full string orchestra through the ORTF pair
has been reinforced at the low end by mixing in some signal from a Neumann TLM103 spot mic
set up in front of the double basses.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
FullSectionFinalMix.mp3
The final string orchestra mix, comprising the ORTF pair and some
extra artificial reverberation from a Lexicon PCM90.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
ViolinsMS.mp3
A
violins-only section captured by the M&S mic pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
ViolinsORTF.mp3
A violins-only section captured by the ORTF mic pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
ViolinsSpaced.mp3
A violins-only section captured by the spaced omni pair.
www.soundonsound.com/sos/may06/audio/
ViolinsFinalMix.mp3
The violins-only mix, comprising the ORTF pair and some extra artificial
reverberation from a Lexicon PCM90.
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